If you happened to miss the announcement, Mortal Kombat is getting a reboot in the form of Mortal Kombat 1. The new title was officially announced on May 18 and will essentially act as the dawn of a new era for the franchise.
Since this is a reboot, the title scheme goes back to 1, but don’t let that fool you. There are still connections to the lore in previous games. In fact there is a direct link to the last game in the series, Mortal Kombat 11. Which serves to set up the story for this new game.
Mortal Kombat 1 will release as a multi-platform title when it launches later this year. Coming to PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store. You’ll also get access to the upcoming beta for the game in August if you pre-order.
The game will release on September 19, and pre-orders for the game start today. In addition to beta access, pre-orders also grant you early access to Shang Tsung as a playable character. You can also get early access to other fighters and skins if you pre-order the digital Premium Edition for $110. Though there are other versions to buy, including a collector’s edition that comes with a statue of Fire God Liu Kang.
Mortal Kombat 1 will reboot the series
Without getting into spoiler territory if you haven’t played Mortal Kombat 11, Mortal Kombat 1 is a reboot of the series, but it does so in a way that is tied to an ending of Mortal Kombat 11 from its Aftermath expansion.
So there is a link to explain everything going on in the upcoming game. However, Mortal Kombat 1 is not a continuation of Mortal Kombat 11. It has its own story and is the beginning of a new universe.
There isn’t much more detail about the game yet beyond what you can see in the trailer. But it’s evident that many things remain. Excessively bloody and gory combat. Insane fatalities. And of course, familiar and returning characters. Even those that have died in the story of past titles (though not necessarily all of them).
Mortal Kombat 1 will feature new fighting mechanics and new modes to keep things fresh. Such as a new Kameo system that will allow you get assistance from certain characters during fights. But at its core it’s still Mortal Kombat. So expect intense bloody fun when it arrives this Fall.